Much has evolved since the golden era of Diablo 2. Back in those days, the grind was the heart and soul of gameplay. RPGs demanded a commitment of countless hours to hit the pinnacle of levels and snag the best loot. Nowadays, things happen a bit faster, offering more immediate gratifications. David Brevik, one of the masterminds behind Diablo, believes this shift in design approach hasn’t been for the best, touching various styles of role-playing games.
When Diablo 2 stormed onto the scene in 2000, it redefined the action-RPG landscape. Its captivating world-building, paired with strategic combat and dungeon exploration, offered a journey so fulfilling that it continues to lure players even after 25 years. Brevik, who was the lead programmer on the original Diablo and took on project and design lead responsibilities for Diablo 2, feels the game’s enduring appeal stems from modern releases veering away from the pacing and intricacy his team originally crafted.
“ARPGs seem to have shifted to this model,” Brevik mentioned to VideoGamer, “where you just rapidly obliterate hordes of enemies. Your build is all about relentless drops and leveling up, cluttering the screen with stuff you hardly care about.”
Brevik finds the fascination with instantly eradicating swarms of foes somewhat ridiculous. He specifically criticizes the trend of rewarding players early with constant enemy waves, which leads to quicker skill growth and superior gear. This change is palpable when revisiting the early Diablo games, where combat encounters were less frequent.
Interestingly, Brevik observes this trend in MMORPGs too. “It’s about how quickly you can level up, how fast you can annihilate everything. It’s all about speed, but I genuinely think that creates a poorer experience,” he asserts. Brevik prefers to steer clear of this direction.
While there’s value in his perspective, games like the contemporary MMO, Final Fantasy 14, demonstrate how streamlining the time it takes to commence your adventure and engage in battles can make games more accessible. Players often crave the action of battling creatures, and offering these elements early on can ensure continued interest.
Still, Brevik is concerned that this faster pace cheapens modern PC games. “When you shorten that journey and make it absurd, you’re devaluing the overall experience, in my view,” he adds.
On the upside, you can enjoy both classic and modern gaming philosophies whenever you wish. With Diablo 3 and 4 readily available and a polished remaster of Diablo 2 released in 2021, everyone’s tastes can be accommodated!
If you’re keen on the impending Diablo 4 Season 8, dive into our guide to find out when it’s coming. We also have a roundup of the best games like Diablo, if you’re itching for your next deep dive.
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